Stapling gun guides

ABSTRACT

A guide structure is provided on a stapling gun to insure the proper positioning of staples. A two-part guide structure is used for a stapling gun which drives staples into a board structure having a guide groove. Staples are to be positioned to span the guide groove. Each of the guide structures can be used alone or in conjunction. One guide structure is a retractable pin on the head of the stapling gun while the other guide structure is an elongated rail on the magazine of the stapling gun.

United States Patent Fritz et a1.

[451 Mar. 12, 1974 STAPLING GUN GUIDES Inventors: Thomas W. Fritz, East Petersburg;

Charles F. Gilbo, Lancaster; Norman A. Johnson, Lititz, all of Pa.

Assignee: Armstrong Cork Company,

Lancaster, Pa.

Filed: Sept. 27, 1971 Appl. No.: 183,985

US. Cl. 227/110, 227/155 Int. Cl. B256 5/02 Field of Search 227/110, 120, 140, 150,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Harley 227/146 X Pabich 227/120 X 2,637,030 5/1953 Wickman et a1 227/151 2,797,414 7/1957 Bolster 227/110 3,116,487 H1964 Schick 227/150 X 3,125,761 3/1964 Adams.... 227/151 3,252,641 5/1966 Ciechanowski 227/8 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A guide structure is provided on a stapling gun to insure the proper positioning of staples. A two-part guide structure is used for a stapling gun which drives staples into a board structure having a guide groove. Staples are to be positioned to span the guide groove. Each of the guide structures can be used alone or in conjunction. One guide structure is a retractable pin on the head of the stapling gun while the other guide structure is an elongated rail on the magazine of the stapling gun.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures STAILING GUN GUIDES Cross-Reference to Related Application The guide structures are used to position staples in a board structure shown as that shown in U. S. application Ser. No. 153,509, filed June 16, 1971, in the name of Thomas W. Fritz, et al, a commonly assigned copending application and now US. Pat. No. 3,710,522, patented Jan. 16, 1973.

Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to the stapling gun structure, and more particularly, to a guide structure for positioning the staples coming from the stapling gun.

2. Description of the Prior Art Generally, guide structures for stapling guns are old as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,169,433. Here is shown the classic guide structure for the nail-driving device which is used to place nails or staple-like elements in flooring. A guide structure is utilized on the end of the stapling device to guide the staples relative to the tongue of the tongue and groove flooring structure.

A conventional stapling gun attachment is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,797,414 wherein the conventional type of stapling gun is provided with a guide structure to position the staples relative to some surface.

Herein is disclosed a specific guide structure for use with a specific board structure to assist in the mounting of ceiling boards in mobile homes. Ceiling boards are provided with guide structures which are utilized to receive the guide devices on the stapling gun.

Summary of the Invention The invention herein is directed to guide structures for a stapling gun. The guide structures may be used in conjunction or independently of each other. One guide structure is a retractable pin which is located on the head of the stapling gun adjacent to the slot through which the staples pass as they are driven by the stapling gun into the surface to receive the staple. The retractable pin is such that the stapling gun can be used in its normal manner without the pin interfering with the operation of the stapling gun. However, when the guide groove structure is available, the pin will readily snap down into the groove and the pin and groove together will act to guide the stapling gun to position the staples. The guide then is positioned centrally of the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun so that the staples will be placed equally distant on either side of the groove which is guiding the stapling gun.

The second guide structure is provided in the form of a rail on the magazine of the stapling gun. The rail extends along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun and has a sufficient length to guide the stapling gun so that it cannot be twisted excessively to either side of its longitudinal axis. The guide rail is positioned in the guide groove of a structure to be stapled and it guides the staples so that the staples will be placed on equally distant sides of the guide groove so as to span the guide groove. The guide rail is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun so that staples will be properly positioned to hold the structural elements in position.

Brief Description of the Drawing FIG. I is a perspective view of the bottom of a stapling gun with the guides in position;

FIG. II is a cross-sectional view of the guide pin structure in the stapling gun; and

FIG. III is a perspective view of the stapling gun in operation relative to the guide groove structure.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown a stapling gun assembly 2 and on the underside of the stapling gun assembly 2 there are provided guide structures for guiding the stapling gun. The guide structures are the assembly 4 or the assembly 6. i

The assembly 4 is mounted on the magazine 8 of the stapling gun. The assembly 4 consists basically of an elongated rail structure 10 which is mounted on the flat horizontal surface 12 of the stapling gun magazine. This is the surface of the stapling gun magazine which is normally resting against the surface into which the staples are driven. The guide rail is of sufficient length, so that if the guide rail were placed in a groove, the stapler would be permitted only to move along the longitudinal axis 14 of the stapler, which axis extends along the length of the guide rail 10. There would be no possibility to rotate the stapler about the elongated rail 10. Sliding of the rail up and down the groove will serve the function of guiding the stapler to move it along the pathway which is defined by the groove. Obviously the groove would be positioned on a surface along the center line through which staples are to be driven. Staples would be driven so as to extend on an equal distance either side of the center line.

The second guide structure is the assembly 6. This is basically nothing more than a pin 16 which extends out of the face 17 of the stapling gun. The face of the stapling gun has an opening 18 through which staples are driven. The face 17 then would be in engagement with the surface which is to receive the staples and the staples pass through opening 18 into the surface to be stapled. The pin 16 would be placed along the longitudinal axis 14 of the stapling gun. In other words, the pin 16 is placed in the face of the stapling gun adjacent the center region of the staple opening 18.

Referring now to FIG. II, there is shown a symbolic representation of the manner in which the pin can be mounted in the stapling gun. This pin 16 would normally be retractable from the face 17 of the stapling gun so that the stapling gun could be used in its normal manner. Simply by pressing the stapling gun against a surface, the pin 16 will be pushed into the stapling gun until its end is flushed with surface 17. Therefore, under normal usage the pin will in no way interfere with the use of the stapling gun as a conventional stapling gun. A spring structure 20 will force the pin outwardly on the face of the stapling gun so that it protrudes beyond the surface 17 of the stapling gun. The pin is now in an extended position so that it can be placed in a groove and function as a guide for the stapling gun.

In FIG. III there is shown the structure which could be used in conjunction with the stapling gun and its guide. There are shown ceiling boards 22 which are placed up against a back-up strip 24 and are meant to be stapled to the back-up strip. In actual use, the ceiling boards constitute the ceiling for a mobile home and the back-up strip 24 is the rafter structure for the mobile home. The boards are so formed that a groove structure 26 exists when two boards are placed side by side. In the situation shown in FIG. III, the guide structure serves the dual purpose of guiding the stapling gun and spacing the ceiling boards to allow for board expansion. Either the rail structure 4 the pin structure 16 will be placed in the groove 26. As shown in FIG. ill, the pin structure 16 is clearly shown in the groove 26. The staple 28 is shown driven into the board so that the staple extends equally distant on either side of the groove 26. If the groove 26 is positioned relative to the center of the back-up strip 24, one need only place the-rail structure or the guide pin in the groove 26 and slide the stapling gun along the groove to properly position the staples. With the use of the pin structure 16, it is possible for the stapling gun to pivot about the pin structure. If the guide rail structure was used in conjunction with the pin, then there could be no pivotal movement of the stapling gun.

Since the ceiling boards are being rapidly placed in position due to production demands and there is a need to get the boards rapidly fastened into position, it is necessary that the operator of the stapling gun accurately and rapidly drive the staples into position. It is necessary that the staples go through both board structures and engage with the backing strip behind the boards. Obviously, a man attempting to partly hold the boards in position at the same time he drives the staple, cannot carefully line up the staples each time he drives one in position. Therefore, the use of a guide structure to more or less hold the stapling gun in position and guide it during its operation greatly assists the operator of the stapling gun in getting the staples properly positioned.

We claim:

1. In combination, a stapling gun for applying staples to two adjoining boards to fasten the boards in position, a guide structure in conjunction with the stapling gun, said guide structure being positioned along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the staple opening in the face of the stapling gun so that the stapling gun will place staples equally distant on either side of the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said guide structure consisting of a guide rail which extends along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun and positioned on the underside of the stapling gun magazine on that surface of the stapling gun magazine which is normally in contact with the structure to receive the staples, said guide rail being of a sufficient length so as to prevent the stapling gun from being moved in a rotational manner, but the stapling gun being permitted to move along a path which extends along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, and said guide rail being of a width less than the spacing between the legs of the staple.

2. In combination, a stapling gun for applying staples to two adjoining boards to fasten the boards in position, a guide structure in conjunction with the stapling gun, said guide structure being positioned along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the staple opening in the face of the stapling gun so that the stapling gun will place staples equally distant on either side of the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said guide structure comprising a retractable spring biased pin which is mounted in the face of the stapling gun along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said pin being positioned closely adjacent the middle of the staple opening in the face of the stapling gun, said pin being fully retractable within the face of the stapling gun so that it will not interfere with the normal operation of the stapling gun.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein there is combined therewith a guide rail structure positioned on the stapling gun with both the guide rail structure and the retractable pin being placed along the same longitudinal axis of the stapling gun. 

1. In combination, a stapling gun for applying staples to two adjoining boards to fasten the boards in position, a guide structure in conjunction with the stapling gun, said guide structure being positioned along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the staple opening in the face of the stapling gun so that the stapling gun will place staples equally distant on either side of the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said guide structure consisting of a guide rail which extends along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun and positioned on the underside of the stapling gun magazine on that surface of the stapling gun magazine which is normally in contact with the structure to receive the staples, said guide rail being of a sufficient length so as to prevent the stapling gun from being moved in a rotational manner, but the stapling gun being permitted to move along a path which extends along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, and said guide rail being of a width less than the spacing between the legs of the staple.
 2. In combination, a stapling gun for applying staples to two adjoining boards to fasten the boards in position, a guide structure in conjunction with the stapling gun, said guide structure being positioned along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the staple opening in the face of the stapling gun so that the stapling gun will place staples equally distant on either side of the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said guide structure comprising a retractable spring biased pin which is mounted in the face of the stapling gun along the longitudinal axis of the stapling gun, said pin being positioned closely adjacent the middle of the staple opening in the face of the stapling gun, said pin being fully retractable within the face of the stapling gun so that it will not interfere with the normal operation of the stapling gun.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein there is combined therewith a guide rail structure positioned on the stapling gun with both the guide rail structure and the retractable pin being placed along the same longitudinal axis of the stapling gun. 